Devices for guiding movable assemblies

ABSTRACT

Device for guiding an assembly displaceable along a plane or a curved surface, which comprises complementary movable elements, that is, a supporting element associated with a fixed support and a supported element associated with the movable assembly, characterized in that the supporting and supported elements consist both of metal sections, advantageously of same and consist cross-sectional contour, each element having formed in its portion parallel to the axis of movement a plurality of punched openings each forming a lug extending at right angles to said opening and bearing on one portion of the complementary element constituting a slideway, said lugs being so disposed that said elements are in constant bearing engagement irrespective of their relative longitudinal positions, the supporting element comprising a flexible channel constituting a friction race.

United States Patent Dutot Mar. 14, 1972 [54] DEVICES FOR GUIDINGMOVABLE 2,985,491 5/1961 Hayes ..308/3.8 ASSEMBLIES 2,964,093 12/1960Lohr et al. ..308/3.8

[72] Inventor: Christian Dutot, Billancourt, France FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS [73] Assignees: Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault, Bil- 71,210,451 9/ 1958 France ..312/341 NR lancourt, France; AutomobilesPeugeot, Paris, France Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron AssistantExaminerRonald H. Lazarus [22] Wed: May 1970 Attorney-Stevens, Davis,Miller & Mosher [21] Appl. No.: 34,832

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application priority Data Device for guidingan assembly displaceable along a plane or a curved surface, whichcomprises complementary movable ele- May 8, 1969 France "69 14 744ments, that is, a supporting element associated with a fixed support anda supported element associated with the movable [52] US. Cl ..308/36,312/341 NR assembly, characterized in that the supporting and supported[51] Int. Cl. ..Fl6c 29/00 em nts c n i h of metal sections,advantageously 0f [53] Field of Search ..308/ 3.6, 3.8; 312/334, 346,same and consist cross-sectional contour, each element having 312/347,348, 341 NR, 349, 350; 108/83 87, 33 formed in its portion parallel tothe axis of movement a plu- 39 143 rality of punched openings eachforming a lug extending at right angles to said opening and bearing onone portion of the 5 References Cited complementary element constitutinga slideway, said lugs being so disposed that said elements are inconstant bearing UNITED STATES PATENTS engagement irrespective of theirrelative longitudinal positions, the supporting element comprising aflexible channel 2,733,972 2/ 1 956 Diack ..312/348 commuting a frictionrace 1,751,899 3/1930 Whitfield 2,759,773 8/1956 Wilmer ..312/341 NR 4Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented March 14, 1972 INVENTOR CHRISTIAN DUTOT ATTORNEYS DEVICES FOR GUIDING MOVABLE ASSEMBLIES and guidingcharacteristics.

Hitherto known slideways or sliding mountings comprise as a rule a fixedelement and, in order to impart the maximum smoothness to the slidingmovements of the assembly, a pair of movable elements movable inrelation to each other, as well as rolling-contact elements such asrollers or balls.

The inconveniences characterizing these known assemblies are chieflytheir high cost and the noise produced during their actuation.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device forguiding sliding or movable assemblies of the type broadly definedhereinabove which permits of eliminating said inconveniences while beingof relatively low cost and being extremely noiseless during the guidingof the movable part and preserving the advantageous features of knownassemblies.

This device comprising complementary movable elements, that is, asupporting element associated with a fixed support and a supportedelement associated with the movable assembly, is characterizedessentially in that the supporting-and supported elements consist bothof metal sections, advantageously of same and constant cross-sectionalcontour, each element having formed in its portion parallel to the axisof movement a plurality of punched openings each forming a lug extendingat right angles to said opening and bearing on one portion of the othercomplementary element constituting a race, said lugs being so disposedthat said elements are in constant bearing engagement irrespective oftheir relative longitudinal positions, the supporting element comprisinga flexible channel constituting a friction race.

According to another feature characterizing this invention the punchedlugs are disposed on the two elements at alternate positions in relationto each other, so that the bearing portions of these two elementsconstantly engage the perpendicular lugs.

Other features and advantages of this invention will appear as thefollowing description proceeds with reference to a specific form ofembodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich FIG. 1 is a cross section showing the slideway or guiding mountingof this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view ofthe same assembly, and FIG. 3 is adiagrammatic elevational view showing the two elements of the device intheir endmost position.

Referring first to FIG. I, it will be seen that the device comprises twoslideways consisting of metal sections 1 and 2 of same cross-sectionalcontour, disposed symmetrically and adapted to slide in relation to eachother.

By way of example, the slideways have a U-shaped crosssectional contourwith unequal parallel wings and relatively sharp corners.

The first section 1 constituting the supporting element is movable in afixed support (not shown) this element constitutes the rolling race ofthe assembly and comprises a plastic channel 3 having a felt innerlining or a flocked insert 7. This channel has likewise a U-shaped crosssection and is similar to the glass window channels currently used inautomobile body construction it is force-fitted between the wings 4, and5, of section 1 and rest with its transverse portion upon the bottom 6,of the U-section element 1 however, it may also be glued thereto.

The other slideways 2 disposed upside-down in relation to slideway 1constitutes the supported element and is rigid with the movable elementor structure (not shown). Its shorter wind 4 engages the channel 3 ofwhich the felt or flocked lining or insert 7 constitutes a noiselessguide and a friction race when the two elements 1 and 2 are moved inrelation to each other.

The longer wing 5, or 5 of each section element 1 or 2 has formedtherein, by punching, a number of openings 8 forming as many lugs 9 ofwhich the outer edges project beyond the shorter wing these lugsextending at right angles to the wings of the relevant section arecovered with sleeves l0 and 11 acting as bearings engaging the base ortransverse portion 6, or 6 of the complementary slideway. These sleevesconsist of a flexible plastic material having a relatively lowcoefficient of friction, such as the products known under the TrademarksDelrin or Rilsan.

The dimensions of the cross-sectional contour of the slideways are socalculated that a movement can take place therebetween both verticallyand laterally.

The punched openings 8 are so distributed that when the two slidewaysregister with each other as shown in FIG. 2 the sleeves l0 and 11 ofelements 1 and 2 are staggered from each other.

This arrangement is advantageous in that even in the endmost positionsof the two section elements as shown in FIG. 3 each element 1 or 2 bearswith the bottom or transverse portion 6, of is U-shaped section againsta sleeve 11 or 10, thus affording a proper positioning of the assembly.The successive sleeves 10,, 10 10 etc. and 11,, 11 11 etc., are adaptedto guide the end portion of section elements 1 and 2 each time these arecaused to engage a sleeve.

Of course, it would not constitute a departure from the basic principleof this invention to use elements 1 and 2 having different contours,provided that they are capable of preventing the untimely disconnectionor transverse displacement of the movable assembly.

This invention is applicable to any guided body movable in a plane oralong a curved path defined by a radius it is thus advantageouslyapplicable to the construction of a drawer or like structure.

Iclaim:

1. A device for guiding an assembly displaceable along a plane or acurved surface, comprising complementary movable elements, the first ofwhich is a supporting element associated with a fixed support, and asecond of which is a supported element associated with a movableassembly, both of said elements comprising metal sections each having aconstant cross-sectional shape and advantageously of the same size, saidcross-sectional shape being that of a channel having two unequal wingsdisposed parallel to the axis of movement and a portion connecting thewings, said portion perpendicular to said axis of movement, each elementhaving formed in its longer wing a plurality of punched openings, a lugextending at right angles from each opening and said lug bearing on saidconnecting portion of the complementary element thereby constituting aslideway, said lugs being so disposed that said elements are in constantbearing engagement irrespective of their relative longitudinal position,while said supporting element additionally comprises a flexible channelconstituting a friction race for the shorter wing of said supportedelement engaged in said flexible channel.

2. A guiding device according to claim 1, wherein a sleeve covers eachsaid perpendicular lug, said sleeve comprising a plastic material havinga low coefficient of friction.

3. A guiding device according to claim 2, wherein said sleeves aredisposed in staggered relationship when said two elements register witheach other.

4. A guiding device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible channelis inserted in the channel formed by said supporting element andcomprises a suitable plastic material having an inner felt or flockedlining.

1. A device for guiding an assembly displaceable along a plane or acurved surface, comprising complementary movable elements, the first ofwhich is a supporting element associated with a fixed support, and asecond of which is a supported element associated with a movableassembly, both of said elements comprising metal sections each having acoNstant cross-sectional shape and advantageously of the same size, saidcross-sectional shape being that of a channel having two unequal wingsdisposed parallel to the axis of movement and a portion connecting thewings, said portion perpendicular to said axis of movement, each elementhaving formed in its longer wing a plurality of punched openings, a lugextending at right angles from each opening and said lug bearing on saidconnecting portion of the complementary element thereby constituting aslideway, said lugs being so disposed that said elements are in constantbearing engagement irrespective of their relative longitudinal position,while said supporting element additionally comprises a flexible channelconstituting a friction race for the shorter wing of said supportedelement engaged in said flexible channel.
 2. A guiding device accordingto claim 1, wherein a sleeve covers each said perpendicular lug, saidsleeve comprising a plastic material having a low coefficient offriction.
 3. A guiding device according to claim 2, wherein said sleevesare disposed in staggered relationship when said two elements registerwith each other.
 4. A guiding device according to claim 1, wherein saidflexible channel is inserted in the channel formed by said supportingelement and comprises a suitable plastic material having an inner feltor flocked lining.